It’s the Sundorne School Musical Mash Up!

A Shrewsbury secondary school has been overtaken by lights, cameras and plenty of action as more than 60 students take to the stage for a big musical production.

The youngsters, from Sundorne School and Sports College, have been rehearsing since October for the Musical Mash Up which is being performed to parents and friends this week.

Teacher of performing arts and dance at the school, Lucy Frederick, said that the aim of the show was to celebrate the best dance, drama and music from favourite West End musicals.

“We have songs from Sister Act, Hairspray, Annie and Rent along with dances from Fame, We Will Rock You and Chicago,” said Miss Frederick who has been a teacher at Sundorne for five years.

“The students have also been putting their acting skills to the test by performing drama from Grease, Our Day Out, Blood Brothers and Whistle Down the Wind.

“Pupils from ages 11 to 16 have been taking part and this is the first time we have had a production involving all school years since I began working here.

“As there are so many amazing musicals to choose from, I thought why not try to do them all.”

Auditions for the Sundorne School Musical Mash Up were held in October and the youngsters have been busy rehearsing for the event since then.

Year 7 pupil Holly Tinkler said: “I play the part of Mollie in Annie and also sing and dance – I’m in almost every number on the night so I have to do my costume changes really quickly backstage.

“I am a bit nervous as it’s my first ever show, but really excited and I’ve been practising every lunch time in the dance studio.”

Kelly Fawcett, also from Year 7, said: “I am dancing and singing – my favourite bit is the dancing and I’d like to be a dancer when I’m older.

“I love the singing, it is fun and I get to wear a nun’s habit for the Sister Act song.”

Year 11 student Jamie Evans said: “I do GCSE performing arts so auditioned for the show and got the parts of Sonny in Grease and Reilly in Our Day Out.

“It has been good putting my acting skills into practice in a real show. It’s really creative the way the production includes lots of different bits from famous shows.”

The choreography and directing has been the brainchild of Lucy Frederick, who has been helped along the way by Emma Williams with the music, Jacquie Sneade on props and set, and Carl Rogers on lighting and sound.

“It has been a real team effort and I am extremely proud of all the hard work put in by students and staff to make this production a big success,” added Miss Frederick.

The Sundorne Musical Mash Up is being performed for parents and friends tonight (Wednesday) and tomorrow at the school.